Derby County have emerged as the latest Championship club to rival Boro for the signature of Liverpool winger Sheyi Ojo.

The 20-year-old talent, capable of playing on either flank, finds himself in-demand this summer after Reds boss Jurgen Klopp made him available for loan for the upcoming season.

It is understood that the Merseysiders are keen for Ojo to play regular football in the Championship this season, despite interest from newly-promoted Newcastle, and there has been no shortage of interest from second-tier clubs.

Boro made an approach to take the England Under-20 World Cup winner on loan earlier this month, offering a package that satisfied Liverpool's demands, and two league rivals have since followed suit.

Yesterday, Fulham entered the race to sign former Wigan and Wolves loanee Ojo on loan, while it is thought that Gary Rowett's Derby have also thrown their hat into the ring.

The decision will now be left to the player as to where he wants to play his football this season, and while Boro remain hopeful that the club's eye-catching summer business will encourage Ojo to head north, Garry Monk is drawing up contingency plans.

Reports last night emerged claiming Boro had seen a £4m offer rejected by Norwich for winger Josh Murphy, with the Canaries loathed to lose another of their key players to a rival this summer.

Monk has already taken influential midfielder Jonny Howson from Carrow Road over the last few weeks, and with new Norwich boss Daniel Farke poised to lose Murphy's brother, Jacob, to Newcastle in a £12m deal, chiefs in Norfolk are eager to dig in their heels.

And it is understood that Boro are considering a number of other winger alternatives, should they face resistance on the transfer front over the coming days.

And the path to signing Darlow looks set to become clearer after last night's revelations that Reading - who were also keen on the 26-year-old - are holding talks with Sunderland No 1 Vito Mannone.

Black Cats boss Simon Grayson conceded last night that Mannone is set to undergo a medical at the Madejski Stadium ahead of a £2m deal, leaving Boro favourites to sign Darlow.

"We’ve agreed a fee with Reading. The player is going into the last year of his contract and when a suitable offers comes in you have to consider it," Grayson told the Sunderland Echo.

"We’ve made it clear to Vito it was up to him what he wanted to do, he felt for his long-term security it was probably best to go. I know he’s discussing personal terms and potentially having a medical.

"With any player, when they go into the last year of their contract, you’ve got to consider it. We’ll see where it goes, if it falls through for any reason Vito will be welcomed back.

"It was put into his hands what he wanted to do and he made the decision that he wanted to go."

Sunderland have since been linked with West Ham's Darren Randolph, a keeper also known to Boro, with the Republic of Ireland international set to leave the London Stadium following the Hammers' loan signing of England stopper Joe Hart.

One player who is set to leave Boro is winger Stewart Downing, who is closing in on a move to Birmingham City.